Biography[1]
William of Occam was a 14th century philosopher. He was an outstanding opponent of Thomas Aquinas. He was born in 1280 and he died in 1349. There is little biographical information left about him. The record of his ordination (year 1306) is still available. Since Occam joined the Franciscan order, he most likely received his early education at a Franciscan house. He pursued a degree of theology at Oxford University, but never completed it. He was accused of heresy and was under house arrest for four years while the Papacy continued its investigation. Occam considered himself to be a devoted follower of Aristotle. Occam's first philosophical work was his Commentary on the Sentences of Peter Lombard.
School of Thought [2] William of Occam and his followers, building on the 13th century achievements in science, logic, metaphysics, and epistemology, created an approach to theology and philosophy that soon was known as nominalism. This nominalism aided in the transition from Medieval to Modern.
Major Writings
Occam's first philosophical work was his Commentary on the Sentences of Peter Lombard. This commentary was a requirement for medieval students. Lombard, both philosopher and archbishop, created a book of opinions for and against controversial claims. Occam also participated in public debates, with the after debate writings being called Disputed Questions and Quodlibetal Questions. Quodlibet means 'whatever you like.' One of his most important works is his Suma Logicae, where he lays out the bases for his logic and his metaphysics. Suma Logicae was published in 1323. Occam also composed a principle called The Razor. It's a principle of simplicity according to which theory is most likely to be true. The first known use of Occam's Razor is in 1852 by British mathematician William Rowan Hamilton.
Influenced by/Legacy [3] Regarding Occam's principle The Razor, he didn't invent it. He was influenced by readings of Aristotle, Aquinas, and other philosophers. William of Occam influenced John Wycliffe with his nominalism.
Further Reading [4] You can further read about William of Occam in:
August Hasler, How the Pope Became Infallible. Doubleday, 1981
John Kilcullen, ‘The Political Writings’ and Peter King, ‘Ockham’s Ethical Theory’ in The Cambridge Companion to Ockham. Ed. Paul Vincent Spade. Cambridge University Press, 1999
Arthur Stephen McGrade, The Political Thought of William of Ockham. Cambridge University Press, 1974
William of Ockham, ‘A Letter to the Friars Minor’ and Other Writings. Eds. John Kilcullen & Arthur Stephen McGrade. Cambridge University Press, 1995
^ Kaye, S. (n.d.). William of Ockham (Occam, c. 1280-c. 1349). In Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved January 23, 2018, from http://www.iep.utm.edu/ockham/
^ Kaye, S. (n.d.). William of Ockham (Occam, c. 1280-c. 1349). In Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved January 23, 2018, from http://www.iep.utm.edu/ockham/
Biography[1]
William of Occam was a 14th century philosopher. He was an outstanding opponent of Thomas Aquinas. He was born in 1280 and he died in 1349. There is little biographical information left about him. The record of his ordination (year 1306) is still available. Since Occam joined the Franciscan order, he most likely received his early education at a Franciscan house. He pursued a degree of theology at Oxford University, but never completed it. He was accused of heresy and was under house arrest for four years while the Papacy continued its investigation. Occam considered himself to be a devoted follower of Aristotle. Occam's first philosophical work was his Commentary on the Sentences of Peter Lombard.
School of Thought
[2] William of Occam and his followers, building on the 13th century achievements in science, logic, metaphysics, and epistemology, created an approach to theology and philosophy that soon was known as nominalism. This nominalism aided in the transition from Medieval to Modern.
Major Writings
Occam's first philosophical work was his Commentary on the Sentences of Peter Lombard. This commentary was a requirement for medieval students. Lombard, both philosopher and archbishop, created a book of opinions for and against controversial claims. Occam also participated in public debates, with the after debate writings being called Disputed Questions and Quodlibetal Questions. Quodlibet means 'whatever you like.' One of his most important works is his Suma Logicae, where he lays out the bases for his logic and his metaphysics. Suma Logicae was published in 1323. Occam also composed a principle called The Razor. It's a principle of simplicity according to which theory is most likely to be true. The first known use of Occam's Razor is in 1852 by British mathematician William Rowan Hamilton.
Influenced by/Legacy
[3] Regarding Occam's principle The Razor, he didn't invent it. He was influenced by readings of Aristotle, Aquinas, and other philosophers. William of Occam influenced John Wycliffe with his nominalism.
Further Reading
[4] You can further read about William of Occam in:
John Kilcullen, ‘The Political Writings’ and Peter King, ‘Ockham’s Ethical Theory’ in The Cambridge Companion to Ockham. Ed. Paul Vincent Spade. Cambridge University Press, 1999